AIPO seeks regional security cooperation

AIPO seeks regional security cooperation

Kurniawan Hari, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung proposed on
Monday that the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Organization (AIPO)
establish a new common security arrangement to deal with the
threat of terrorism and transnational crime.

Speaking in his capacity as AIPO president, he urged member
countries to increase security cooperation through the proposed
body.

"This will not be a military alliance but a firm commitment
among the regional countries to take full collective
responsibility in addressing security issues in the region,"
Akbar said at the opening of the 24th AIPO General Assembly here
on Monday.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri, who was scheduled to address
the inaugural ceremony, failed to show up. Her remarks were read
out by Coordinating Minister for Political and Security Affairs
Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Later in the evening, Megawati apologized for her absence,
saying she had been unavoidably detained.

"I would like to extend my sincerest apology for ... not being
able to attend the opening ceremony...," she said at a dinner
reception at the Bogor Palace, which she hosted.

Earlier, detik.com reported that a number of Indonesian
legislators had said they would boycott the reception in response
to Megawati's failure to open the AIPO meeting.

"As head of state, she should have attended...," said
legislator Alvin Lie as quoted by detik.com.

Apart from terrorism, Akbar warned AIPO delegates of another
global threat, namely the practice of unilateralism. This threat,
he said, had in recent months tended to diminish the role of the
United Nations in global security affairs.

He stressed that unilateral action did not solve problems it
sought to solve and that in the long run a world dominated by
unilateralism would not be able to achieve the peace it was
aspiring to.

According to Akbar, there is a need to restore the United
Nations to its rightful place in international affairs so that it
could serve as the instrument to world peace.

Meanwhile, in her written message, Megawati said she believed
the AIPO General Assembly would produce agreements that were not
only commensurate with ASEAN unity and cohesiveness, but also
with the efforts that were now being undertaken by all
governments of ASEAN countries.

The AIPO General Assembly comprised members of ASEAN and
observers from several other countries.

ASEAN consists of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines,
Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Brunei
Darussalam.

Members of AIPO have held these annual meetings since 1978.

Meanwhile, the AIPO Plenary Meeting on Monday set up four
committees to discuss political, economic, social and
organizational matters.

Two other committees were set up to pursue dialogs with
country partners and to discuss gender equality. All of the
committees will be headed by Indonesian delegates.

Committee meetings would deal with transnational crime,
migrant workers, maritime cooperation, the efforts to strengthen
the role of the United Nations, the implementation of the ASEAN
Free Trade Area (AFTA), the establishment of ASEAN Antipoverty
Fund and efforts to combat illicit drugs.

The assembly will also hear the report by the Cambodian
Delegation on the 36th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting in June 2003.

Lawmakers will also hold talks on economic cooperation and
comprehensive partnerships between ASEAN and China, Japan and the
Republic of Korea.

Gender equality and the role of women in politics in the
globalized era, the role of women in the media to help solve the
problems of women, and the role of women in accelerating the
sustainable development are also on the meeting agenda.

In the meantime, the committee in charge of organizational
matters will discuss the amendment of the AIPO statute and the
report by Philippine delegates on the results of a feasibility
study on the establishment of an ASEAN Parliament.